Chickasaw Cultural Center

SULPHUR, Okla. ­­--After opening in July 2010, the Chickasaw Cultural Center quickly became one of the premier tourist attractions in Oklahoma. More than 350,000 guests from around the world have experienced Chickasaw culture and heritage at the Chickasaw Cultural Center.

Located on 109 pristine acres of rolling hills and woodlands, the Chickasaw Cultural Center is much more than a museum. Utilizing the latest technology, interactive demonstrations, ancient artifacts and natural outdoor spaces, the Chickasaw Cultural Center tells the story of the unconquered and unconquerable Chickasaw Nation - from the ancient past to the present day.

Some of the features of the facility include an interactive exhibit hall, large-format theater, traditional village, café, honor garden, amphitheater and the Holisso Center for the Study of Chickasaw History and Culture.

Cultural teachers are always on hand to demonstrate traditional crafts such as beadwork, basketry and pottery, hide-tanning, bow making and flute making. Guided group tours are also available upon request.

Dugout Canoes: Paddling through the Americas, is one of the special exhibits hosted by the cultural center. On Loan from the University of Florida, this world-class exhibit tells the story of how dugout canoes have affected life and travel throughout the Americas, and features the world's largest archaeological find — 101 ancient dugouts at Newnans Lake, Florida.  

Originally scheduled from Sept. 27 through May 6, it was held over by popular demand until Sept. 27, 2015.

An exhibit of eighteenth-century beadwork of southeastern tribes is scheduled from May 23 through November 30 of this year. That exhibit features 200-year-old artifacts as well as Chickasaw and southeaster tribal beadwork from pre-European contact through today.

In addition, several fun-filled, family-oriented and informational activities are scheduled throughout the year making the Chickasaw Cultural Center the perfect choice for family outings.

Awards and Accolades

Chickasaw Cultural Center has amassed an impressive number of awards, honors and accolades, including “The Oklahoman Reader's Choice “State Tourism Destination,” TripAdvisor's “2014 Certificate of Excellence,” and a Yelp “People Love Us On Yelp” recognition.

The interactive nature of the Chickasaw Cultural Center is one reason editors of Metro Family Magazine selected the Chickasaw Cultural Center as one of the “Best places to learn outside the classroom,” in an article published Aug., 2014.

Editors praised the Chickasaw Cultural Center's “perfect combination of tribal history and modern technology allows kids to become totally immersed in the vibrant history and celebrate the ongoing culture of the Chickasaw Nation.”

In Aug, 2013, readers of Metro Family voiced their agreement as they ranked the Chickasaw Cultural Center among the “Top 10” places for children to learn outside the traditional classroom.

The Chickasaw Cultural Center has also been awarded a top Oklahoma tourism honor, a RedBud Award for Outstanding Attraction of 2012.

CNN Travel.com listed the Chickasaw Cultural Center as a “must see” Oklahoma destination in the online article, “50 states, 50 spots for 2014,” which was posted on CNN.com in early 2014.

The Chickasaw Cultural Center earned high praise for the exquisite architecture and well-manicured grounds, as well as exceptional customer service, high-quality food and methods used to tell the Chickasaw story.

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